The Melting Pot vs Transnationality

"Only America, by reason of the unique liberty of opportunity and traditional isolation for which she seems to stand, can lead in this cosmopolitan enterprise. Only the American -- and in this category I include the migratory alien who has lived with us and caught the pioneer spirit and a sense of new social vistas -- has the chance to become that citizen of the world. America is coming to be, not a nationality but a trans- nationality, a weaving back and forth, with the other lands, of many threads of all sizes and colors. Any movement which attempts to thwart this weaving, or to dye the fabric any one color, or disentangle the threads of the strands, is false to this cosmopolitan vision. I do not mean that we shall necessarily glut ourselves with the raw product of humanity. It would be folly to absorb the nations faster than we could weave them. " http://www.theatlantic.com/past/issues/16jul/bourne.htm


Explanation:

          Randolph Bourne's essay written almost a century ago is an impacting one, holding many truth about America in this day and age.  In it, Bourne clearly resents the  ideology behind the melting pot theme- in which  all different cultures mix together into the "Americanized" main stream culture.  Bourne states of the importance sticking to your identity and beliefs, for each individual culture abiding by its rituals and beliefs respectfully of the others is what makes America unique. his point about America not being a nationality but rather it be called trans-nationality was perhaps his most striking point, I mean in reality, aren't we all descendants from immigrants whom moved to this country in search for that liberty we now can enjoy here? Lastly, in this particular paragraph he makes clear emphasis on the fact the America actually has the luxury of promoting such trans-nationalism for it stands a "unique liberty of opportunity"

Opinion:

          Being a first generation immigrant myself and adjusting to the very different way of life in this country, I must say this particular exert was most welcoming and comforting for me.   The principal reasons for migration are to escape persecution, in search of a better life, and more importantly for liberty.  To me and others like me, the United Sates offers protection for all three.  The fact that this essay was written almost 100 years ago and still very much applies to a lot of the principles held today is even more reassuring to me that American is the land of Liberty.  The idea of trans nationality is more alive today then it ever was, think about; with so many race interest groups and so many politicians always going after the race groups- it is quite clear that the idea of preserving those values from different cultures and allowing each person the liberty of practicing them within respectable measures of others is the American way!